like arthritis but not maybe

[sofa weight]

In 2001, I had positive rheumatoid factor, nodules, but low ESR. I always have low ESR regardless of how sick I was or what infections I had, etc. After first being seropositive I have since then been negative and my ESR is always like 1 or 2. I get tendonitis all the time and have during the whole time. MRI has shown the tendonitis, so it isn't in my head. MTX keeps it at bay. Prednisone does too, but makes my tendons weak. My first rheumatologist of 5 years said I had Seroneg RA. I often have swollen joints. I used to have many rheumatoid nodules on my elbows and forearms and on on thumbs and index finger mcp. I started to get neuropathy in my legs and couldn't get that across to my rheumatologist so I changed doctors. The second rheumatologist said I didn't have RA and just had FMS. He took me off of MTX. Within months, I could barely walk or lift up my arms. My PCP put me on prednisone. I was on that for 2 years up until sep 1, 08 and then very quickly I had tendonitis in both ankles, both shoulders, both elbows and my finger joints felt like they were sprained, and I developed moderately severe carpal tunnel in both hands and trigger finger in 5 out of 10 fingers. I started on MTX again on 3rd week of October and by December, the trigger fingers all cleared up except for one thumb. One hand had trigger thumb and carpal tunnel release surgery 3 weeks ago. Now I don't have much along the lines of tendonitis anywhere but still have pain in my SI joint and leg. X-rays in October said no sacroiliitis. 12 months X-rays said I had sacroiliitis. The rheumatologist who DXed FMS I stopped seeing in 07 because he wanted to treat everything with lyrica. My new rheumatologist now took me off of prednisone to assess my joints and he then put me on MTX because I asked him to. The MTX worked, but nothing makes sense. BTW, I get real tendonitis seen on MRI. But, I am wondering if anyone might know what the heck is wrong with me. Blood all normal aside from slightly high WBC.

[Michael L Gross, MD]

This is not really a sports medicine question, but have you considered gout or something related?  Good luck!

[sofa weight]

I ran out of space, but...
I have had head Brain cervical, theoracic, and lumbar MRIs. Also of both shoulders and of my left knee.
I have had CT/myelogram. There is nothing wrong with my spine aside from very minimal degen disc disease at L3-L4 and mild facet arthritis at L5-S1 areas I think.
Either i do or do not have sacroiliitis depending upon who took x-rays and who read them. Last year I was Dxed with sacroiliitis and this year at a different locale a different radiologist said new x-rays show no evidence of it.
RF denervation makes my leg feel better for a few months, but not 100% better.
I more often than not have low grade fever and that is about all the info I have to help. anything else would just distract from figuring out the problem because other info is neurologically based and not related to my tendons. Oh, also I am 38, female, not overweight, physically fit...considering that I live lying flat on my back most of the time.
Last bone density done 1 yr ago had tscore of 2.2. Also, I have very little, if any, joint erosion except for in my shoulders.
That covers it. I hope that someone has an idea what is wrong. I'd like to start having a life again someday. And if nothing else, some kind of Dx to appease LTD insurance so that I can at least have money to live on.
I see my rheumatologist again at the end of this month, bue he dosn't yet have a Dx for me and I'm tired of having to wait 3 months between appointments when I have gone so many years without an answer or some kind of good treatment so that I can go back to work.

[sofa weight]

I know it isn't a sports medicine question, but there isn't a rheumatology or general orthopedics expert forum that I have seen oh medhelp. That is why I asked i this forum. I figured that sports medicine is orthopedics and tendons going to heck all over my body is orthopedics; I would post to this forum. Especially since I don't have any blood work that would indicate anything other than tendonitis and inflammation all over. I think that if I had gout that one of my 3 rheumatologists over the past 7 years would have diagnosed that. At least I think they would have. Oh well.